Mistletoe

Quick meaning: Mistletoe is a noun meaning (uncountable) A sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration, associated with the custom that a man may kiss any woman standing beneath it.

Meaning

(uncountable) A sprig of one such plant used as a Christmas decoration, associated with the custom that a man may kiss any woman standing beneath it.

More Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Any of numerous hemiparasitic evergreen plants of the order Santalales with white berries that grow in the crowns of apple trees, oaks, and other trees, such as the European mistletoe (Viscum album) and American mistletoe or eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum).

Example Sentences

(all obsolete or archaic)

Miſtletoe! why I know what that is, as we garniſh our Houſe with it every Year, at Chriſtmas.

In Martigny I first observed the custom, common throughout many parts of Switzerland, of hanging mistletoes over the house doors; a superstition for which I have not been able to get any reason rendered.

There were ruddy, brown-faced, broad-girthed Spanish Onions, shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars; and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the girls as they went by, and glanced demurely at the hung-up mistletoe.

Word Forms

• mistletoes
• misleto
• miseltoe
• misletoe
• mistle-toe
• misseltoe

Synonyms for mistletoe

Depending on context, synonyms include miseleden, misselden, misseldine.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include mistle-toe, misletoe, misseltoe, viscin, matipo, miterwort.

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